Coffin-fastener.



No. 818,233. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. G. A. GONKLIN. GOFFIN FASTENBR;

APPLICATION FILED DEG.2.1904.

nnentux gg gmmzgl/ CHARLES A. CONKLN,

Apeutnaar caricia.

OF ADltlAN, MlCHlGrAN.

COFFlNHFSTENEH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed December 2,1904. Serial No. 235.170.

To all 'Luwrt t may con/007%.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES A. CONKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coffin-Fasteners; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a self-securing socket-keeper for coffin-fasteners designed for use in fastening the covers of burial-Gaskets and for other purposes; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a self-securing socket-keeper for coffin-fasteners of simple and inexpensive construction, which may be readily set in place and which will firmly hold the hook of a burial-casket cover or other engaging member, the arrangement being such as to enable the keeper to be quickly and easily removed when desired.

The above object is attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l is a perspective view of one half of the socket-keeper carrying the securingprong. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the other half of the socket-keeper adapted to maintain the half containing the securingprong in position in the receiving-socket. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the socketkeeper, parts being broken away to show the central aperture in the bottom. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, showing the position of parts as the socket-keeper is forced into the receiving-socket. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the socket-keeper in position in the socket. Fig. 6 is a sectional view in detail, showing the socket-keeper secured in the socket and a hook engaging therein to secure a lid or cover in position as applied to a burial-casket.

The socket-keeper is preferably made of malleable iron and is composed of the semicylindrical parts l and 2. At the lower end of the part 1 is a projecting prong 3, adapted to be forced into the wall of the socket in I which the keeper is placed to secure it therein. Formed through the wall of part l of the socket-keeper is an aperture 4, which serves as an opening to receive a hook or other engaging member, as shown in Fig. 6. The part 2 of the socket-keeper is the counterpart of part l, with the exception that it has no projecting prong. The two parts of the socket-keeper when placed together, as shown in Fig. 3, form a cylindrical or barrel-like member.

This improved socket-keeper isA designed to be placed in an annular socket 5, and to insert the socket-keeper therein the part l is first placed in the socket, as shown in Fig. 4, where it occupies an inclined position, and the part 2 is then driven therein, whereby the socket, so that when the part 2 has been forced into place the lower endof part 1 will have been crowded over, so as to cause said part to occupy a vertical position and the prong 3 to become deeply embedded in the wood of the surrounding wall of the socket. The presence of the part 2 maintains part l in position, so that it cannot be withdrawn without first withdrawing the part 2.

The socket-keeper is herein shown as inserted in the upper edge 6 of a casket-body, and in order to afford access to the aperture 4 a groove 7 is cut in the edge of the casketbody to allow the entrance of the hook 8, secured to the top 9 of the casket, as shown in Fig. 5. When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the keeper cannot be removed from its embracing-socket without breaking the prong 6 or tearing out of the wood, making a strong fastening device.

On referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the bottom ends of the semicylindrical parts of the keeper are closed and that there is formed through said closed ends an aperture l0. The purpose of said aperture is to enable a screw ll (see Fig. 6) to be passed downwardly through the bottom of the keeper into the wood below the socket in which it is seated, thereby preventing the accidental withdrawal of the part 2, as said part is only retained in place by friction against the wall of the socket. lt may not be necessary in all cases to use the screw 1l, but by using a screw or other similar fastening means which more securely retained in place.

To aiford means for withdrawing the part 2 of the keeper, an aperture 1.2 is formed prong 3 is caused to enter the wall of the' passes through the bottom of the keeper it is.

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through the wall thereof, in which a hook or other instrument may be inserted for the purpose of withdrawing said part, after which the part l may be withdrawn by working the prong out of the wall of the socket, as will be understood. The top of part 1 of the keeper is strengthened by the lateral Vl'lange 13, the presence of which obviates the liability of the metal above the aperture 4 breaking away through ythe engagement of a hook or other member in said aperture.

It will now be understood that a keeper of this character may be quickly and firmly secured in position, obviating the labor incident to setting in a keeper-plate and fastening it with screws, as commonly practiced.

Having thus fully set 'forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A keeper comprising two halfround members adapted to enter and fill a receivingsocket, one member having a projecting prong and an aperture adapted to receive an interlocking part, the other member being adapted to engage the first-mentioned member in the socket and retain it in place.

2. A keeper, comprising semicylindrical members adapted to enter a socket, one of said members having an engaging prong adapted to enter the wall oi' the soc ret and an aperture to receive a hook or engaging part, the other of said members forming with the first part a cylindrical shell and adapted to be driven into the socket against the first part to crowd the prong into the wall thereof and to fill the socket-opening in conjunction with the part carrying the prong.

3. A cylindrical socket-keeper composed of separable members, one member having a projecting prong and an aperture for an engaging part, the other member Jforming the complementary portion of the cylinder and adapted to wedge the pronged member in a receiving-socket in which the members are seated.

4. A hollow socket-keeper, composed of separable parts adapted to fill a socket, one part having a projecting prong and means for engaging an interlocking hook, the other part being adapted to wedge the pronged part in the socket, the united parts forming a bottom and a retaining member passing through said bottom.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. CONKLI.

Witnesses:

E. N. SMITH, W. B. CoLvIN. 

